Audioholic Blog » Audio Cables & Wiring

Affordable, Essential Audio Accessory for the Home Studio Nut

Speakers Fan — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:43:56 +0000

Home studios and home studio nuts are not some dwindling society that will disappear like many ancient civilizations seemingly did during the fly of the night. Rather, home studios offer affordability to those who are neophyte protagonists, in favor of shaving thousands of dollars off the recording tab that is commonly presented to them should they try and rent out a pro studio locally, and cut their tracks in it. Which is why many have striven to great lengths to purchase affordable studio gear and setup their own home digital recording studio that does not cost them a penny more than the initial up front investment, but that yields to them endless hours of joy diddling with various gadgets and recording their songs, tracks and what have you.

Tantamount to this endeavor is the costs of home studio gear, which can range greatly in price and performance, and most importantly quality. Thankfully there are brands that strive to make gear more affordable, without compromising quality. This is what you will find with Behringer, one of the leading gear companies that make quality, affordable studio and live sound equipment.

Behringer ULTRAPATCH PX-1000 48 Point Balanced Patchbay
Welcome to the world of affordable studio gear. And as you can plainly see the PX-1000 is a balanced, 48-point patchbay, by Behringer, that offers balanced connections via TRS or ¼” and has 2 sets of main left and right ins and outs. There are five different modes for each channel which provides maximum flexibility when patching cables. And every studio nut knows that a patchbay is mandatory to avoid clutter of wires and know what goes where and into what. Well constructed metal housing assures that quality is intact and it is manufactured under a strict ISO9000 certified management system, adorned with a 1-year limited warranty. Well priced online from about $29.99 at select merchants.

Features and Specs:
• Very Affordable Super Effective
• Balanced Connections
• Five Mode Settings
• Dimensions: (WxHxD) 19 x 1 3/4 x 2 3/4″ (482.6 x 44.5 x 69.3mm)
• Weight: 2 7/8 lbs (1.3 kg)
• Professional and multi-functional 48-point balanced patchbay for studio and stage applications
• Each channel can be aligned in 5 different modes, giving you the highest possible flexibility
• Fully balanced high-quality 1/4 inch TRS connectors
• Super-rugged metal construction for long life and durability
• Manufactured under ISO9000 certified management system
• One Year Warranty

The Bottom Line:
Every studio needs a patchbay. Why pay more for your home studio gear than you have to? This patchbay offers maximized flexibility, plenty of patch points and a very desirable price. A good warranty assures that you will get your money’s worth out this puppy!

The Big Secret Behind Those Pricey Speakon Cables!

Speakers Fan — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:54:05 +0000

Have you heard about the most recent advancements in audio cables? Just a few short years ago a company called Neutrik unveiled the most astonishing advancement to ever take place in recent years in the speaker cables community: a speaker cable that locks on to the connector and latches securely, unable to ever be pulled free from the socket unless the user press two latches together and twists the connector off. Lo and behold, such lofty technological prowess is rarely found in any industry, and yet at the same time, this sort of gimmick should have been produced years ago. But much to the dismay of the users of the past, it would not be available until well into the next century. However, now that we find ourselves on the precarious brink of a new decade, inside of a new millennium, Neutrik Speakon cables are quickly taking over the industry and forging themselves as the new audio cables of the next generation.

The Technology:
Neutrik Speakon cables are made in 8, 4 and 2 pole configurations that mate with the connectors but will not work if reversed, and some of the available Speakon cables of today are capable of biamping even triamping. They are constructed of high quality and durable plastics and metals. All of the cables carry the highest level of electrical shielding which prevents shock from touching a cable that is connected to an ungrounded and a grounded connection. Speakon cables are widely available with both XLR and TRS connectors, and in the past two years the manufacturer has even released an STX version that has male and female in-line connectors.

Where you can buy them:
You can find Speakon cables at nearly any musician supplies or audio supplies superstore, and they are most commonly used in a studio setting. Some of the stores that currently carry ample supplies of them online are: Zzounds, MusiciansFriend, GuitarCenter, and elsewhere.

Why they cost so much:
Speakon cables cost so much for two reasons. One, they are only truly compatible with audio gear that has Speakon connections, meaning most people will have to run out and buy new gear. And two, the technology is rather new and the cables are handmade from the highest quality materials. This assures a high level of clarity in the signal but translates into these cables costing about two, and even three times the price per foot as the leading audio cables that are void of the Speakon technology.

See the Difference When you use Speakon cables as Opposed to Standard ¼” Cables
This short, yet extremely effective video demonstration, that we found on Youtube.com, offers an inside look at the main reason why so many bands and clubs, and pro stages are racing to convert their now obsolete quarter-inch cables to the new industry standard, the nearly unbreakable Neutrik Speakon cables, which are quickly becoming more commonplace.

Five Awesome Resources on Wiring a Room for Perfect Home Audio

Speakers Fan — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:50:01 +0000

While the experts on home audio will always tend to disagree on the fact that there really is not an ‘ideal’ room in any home that is just the right fit for the perfect home audio—one that eludes to clarity and resonance—one thing is for certain: wiring a room for perfect home audio, or the best darn audio you will be able to get, is far less complex than most people may think. Perhaps the wires and the speakers, and all of the boxes and inserts, outputs and equalizers are what cause people to become disorientated to the solution. However, there are some rather quick fixes that will yield you clear and robust audio, no matter what room of the house you are wiring in. And there are certain tricks to hiding cables and patching them that you may not know, but which will be revealed here.

Identifying your needs
You want to make sure that you purchase the right home audio system to begin with. The average living room is about 600 square feet and has several walls, not to mention furniture and artwork, and so on, that can disrupt the clarity of an audio signal. You want to make sure that you position your large floor standing speakers in a manner that allows the signal the least amount of interruption and most amount of distribution.

• Don’t place things on or in front of your floor standing speakers
• Avoid placing speakers near an end table or a coffee table that can disrupt the signal
• Angle the speakers inwards slightly to allow the signals to best reach your ideal sitting area
• If the room is awkward, try smaller, wireless speakers for a true 5.1 surround sound flare

Check out this website for more home audio wiring tips.

Too many cables? Go wireless!
If you find that cables are a hassle, or just get in the way of things, there are additional options. Go wireless! You can easily get your hands on affordable wireless surround sound home audio systems that will not require a single solitary inch of home audio wiring. Of course the drawback is that most wireless systems require batteries, which can become a nuisance should they run out of juice in the middle of watching the ‘Terminator.’

Wireless home audio systems like this one: http://www.avtechsolutions.com/s_av_senders.htm —are well priced.

Helpful home audio wiring how to videos

How to setup your own home theatre right the first time! This detailed video—courtesy of Expert Village—demonstrates how to setup your home theatre system right the first time.

Learn how to setup your home theatre subwoofer properly. This excellent ‘how to’ video—provided by Expert Village—demonstrates the most efficient and proper way to setup up your subwoofer for your home theatre.

Now that you have the cables run and wired, how do you hide them? No problem! This detailed video demonstrates the tricks of the trade; the ones that the pros use. Learn how to effectively hide your audio cables when installing your home theatre system.

Easy Audio Wiring Tips Revealed

Speakers Fan — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:37:51 +0000

Lots of people run out to the local electronics superstore and whip out their handy, plastic credit card to purchase the home audio system of their dreams. However, upon returning home they are quick to realize several equations they had not thought of previously when making that lofty purchase. Those equations being: did they buy all of the required cables to properly hook up their brand-new audio system? Do they even know how to hook up everything properly? What goes where, into what plug and so on? And many other questions that most people will haplessly spend hours on resolving, or waste ample amounts of their own money on paying ‘experts’ to setup and install their home stereo system, when they could have easily done it on their own should they just be provided with the know-how.

Wiring your stereo is not that complicated
In reality, the makers of such products have striven to great lengths to assure that their systems are as easy to install as possible. They even will typically list all of the required audio components necessary to install such a system. There some simple rules of thumb that you can follow which will allow you avoid the costly and time consuming pitfalls that many new home audio stereo system buyers frequently endure.
• Look at the box and make sure that you purchase all of the required cables
• Assure that your current setup at home including: TV, receiver, cables, cable box Etc, is compatible with the system that you are purchasing; if you do not know ask a store representative
• Make certain that you purchase a plug spread with surge protection to protect your audio equipment in the event of an electrical spike

How to Wire your Home Stereo System
This video—courtesy of Expert Village—demonstrates the ideal cables and wiring methods that should be employed for optimal sound and video clarity. Home audio wiring is not nearly as complicated as most people think that it can be. However, many people assume that they simply just will not be able to properly wire their home stereo system, and instead end up spending hundreds on fees, paying a specialist to come out and do it for them. Once you watch this video, you will be THE SPECIALIST. Take your notes and wire your home audio system properly the first time around, and never pay somebody out of pocket again—when you can easily do it yourself.

Home audio wiring diagram
Use this handy diagram to learn how to wire your home audio system. Experts have proven that best method of wiring anything is by using a diagram first. Just follow the diagram, as it pertains to your home audio system and wire it up properly, the first time, and enjoy your new home stereo system.

Home Audio Wiring – Does High Cost Equal Greater Quality?

Speakers Fan — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:10:41 +0000

Many consumers and experts alike consider higher quality audio cables to be the foundation of clarity and audio quality delivered. But still the debate rages on as to whether the higher priced audio cables that are gold-plated and those that encompass the standard fare of rock-bottom-priced, copper wired cables actually deliver an audible (you can hear it with your own ears) difference in sound. The answer, to be short, is yes and no. Often time’s consumers will find themselves at stores wondering if they should spend the extra dough on the lauded, higher quality audio cables. For most people, this answer is no. The ear will only hear certain elements from differing cables, those elements being clarity of the signal and distortion caused by the cable itself, when transferring the audio signal from the receiver to the speakers.

What to look for in home audio wiring
When you are searching for the right audio cables for your home stereo system your best bet does not lie with taking the advice of an audio sales representative whose main goal are to upsell you on products that you may not need. Your receiver manual will suggest the optimal cables for signal delivery, and be it as it may the suggested cables for purchase generally lie in the cheaper, copper brand, found at most retail stores that sell audio equipment and supplies. Generally, you want to adhere to the manufacturer’s suggestion on the ideal cables, balanced or unbalanced, plated or non-plated. They have designed their audio equipment to optimally transfer signals at a perceived rate, one that their consumers can afford, and one that delivers optimal sound signals.

Cost versus quality
Most cables are made with copper, plain and simple. There are some that incorporate gold elements to increase the signal strength transfer rate and to clean up the overall sound. But the truth be told, most modern day receivers have built-in digital cleanup interfaces which take all signals and pass them through digital filters so that the sound quality is as high as it possibly can be. That being said, for most people, and in most cases, the recommended factory cables—the standard fare of cables—will suffice. And to further this point, if you were to take the most expensive cables and hook them up on identical systems, side-by-side, and play audio from each system, most people would have absolutely no idea which system had the higher quality cables.

What to look for in high end audio cables
While one could yap on for hours on end about the lack of real difference in audio cables and their quality, there are some inherent facts to be revealed. So here are some well-known facts about audio cables.
• An audio cable can never increase the quality of a signal
• High end audio cables are designed to minimize disruption of the signal and distortion
• The more insulation a cable has the higher quality of a signal it will deliver
• High price does not necessarily mean a better cable; some of the best audio cables are well priced within the competition

Need more convincing?
Check out this video from a Slate Audio Expert who details the ins and outs of a high quality audio cable—you might be surprised at what this expert has to say.